Continuing from yesterday on the subject of gender roles, please read yesterday’s blog first. I will get into the new eBook more on the next blog. Gender role is something that many people take for granted and accept without question. Others though are never comfortable in their gender role and live in the traditional roles of the opposite sex, for example a woman in combat military duty, fighting on the frontlines, or a young man who babysits and works in daycare.
Obviously there is nothing wrong with this, my point here is that the roles that define man and woman are blurring. Many young readers will question this blog as so what! However the older reader will remember when the thought of a man working at a daycare was not acceptable, nor was a woman in combat! Women did not break into male dominated professions till early in the last century and only on an exceptional basis. Medical doctors for instance were all men till 1849 when Elizabeth Blackwell graduated from medical school in New York. Now days 50% or more of medical doctors who graduate medical school are female.
Many vocational professions still shun women, so why is this? Is there really a reason why a woman cannot fix a car or fire a weapon? I will tell you that from my view women are feminine in essence and for that reason are usually not ideal for aggressive vocations such as fighting. The real issue comes in with stereotypes and is perpetuated by learning. We are taught from the day we are born what a particular gender does. If your sex was male at birth then you are taught what the gender roles of men are. If for some reason you participate in a woman’s role then you are disciplined or corrected.
Physically each person has gifts that give them an advantage and putting those gifts to work makes a lot of sense. When it comes right down to it, anyone can do any job, however some people will have an advantage in certain work situations. It is important to see the person for the skills they possess and stop using gender as a clear indicator as to whether this person will be good at it. If a woman wishes to do wood carving or car repair and becomes good at it then they should be welcomed as much as anyone else. The same goes for men who enjoy working with babies or love to sew.
Male privilege is something that also figures in here, because traditionally men have been more accepted than women no matter what they do! This is changing in today’s world, thank goodness, however it still exists and all I ask is that you see it and stop supporting it. All people are created equal in God’s eyes.
Personal relationships challenge our gender roles more than anything else, so I would like you to look closely at your life. Do you treat the opposite gender differently? Why? Is it ok for a woman to open the door for her man or for a woman to buy flowers for her partner? If they do does this make them masculine? Is this just common courtesy? Should we put limits on what a person can do just because they are a certain gender? Or should we listen to our heart and do what feels good? I think you know the answer to these questions and there is no right answer, only what works for you!
🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth
Oneness Ministry 
Leave a Reply